Saturday, December 15, 2007

Bah Humbug!

Today I ran with Paul, Suzanna, and Florencia at Sugarloaf, a park near my home. We ran for 3 hours and the weather was crisp and clear. It was fun to socialize with our "Marin County" friends again. Since our big run last Saturday, I have been dealing with an injury that I think is in my quad. It is felt in my quad just above my left knee and goes to the inside and down just below my knee. It hurts the most when I walk or when I run flat. I have been taking advil and icing it. The gym has been my best friend this last week.

I don't know about you, but I am a HUMBUG when it comes to Christmas. I was thinking about Christmas today. How did we get from celebrating Jesus's Birthday to buying everyone and their brother a gift? Whether you want to or not? It's just crazy, this rat race we call Christmas.

Tomorrow my brother and I are running together. He has made a commitment to get in shape and he is seeing progress. He and I use to run together years ago and we had so much fun together. I always knew he would get the running bug back.

I end this writing with the words of the late George Sheehan, M.D.--physician, writer, thinker, inspirational voice, runner.

There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly, I run because I am an animal and a child, and artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be.

No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences. My times become slower and slower, but the experience of the race is unchanged: each race a drama, each race a challenge, each race stretching me in one way or another and each race telling me more about myself and others.

In facing life, no one knows exactly what is going to happen, what is going to be needed, where the search for the Grail will lead. The best we can do is be prepared. Running makes you an athlete in all areas-trained in basics, ready for whatever comes, ready to live each day, fill each hour and deal with the decisive moment.

Finally, and appropriately:

You must listen to your body. Run through annoyance but not through pain.

7 comments:

Gotta Run..... said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I did change the look based a weird mode one afternoon. I think I am liking it.

Woo... from the little bit I have read you have some amazing ultra background. Golden Gate run in 73 miles. The pictures I looked at are also beautiful.

I must read more!!

kelly said...

I'm glad you have enjoyed my blog. I hope it is not too boring. Sometimes it is hard to come up with things to write about. I really enjoy your blog!

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

Hey Kelly, grrrr on ur knee issue...well quad. I had a pretty similar thing, as u might know I bet it's a nice knot that needs to be worked out.

I had three good knots in my quads that pulled on my left knee early on last year...took about a week of grinding it out with my two thumbs and also using my tiger tail roller(love that sucker)

did u get this workbook yet? all about knots, very valuable resource...check out the website.

click here

On sale for like $14 SOOOOO Worth it!!!!

Merry X-Mas!!

Olga said...

Like the last advice, and am trying to listen to it more...hope you do too! And oh, how I agree on x-mas issue!

kelly said...

Thanks, Bob. I'll check out the book. I hate it when I don't feel 100%. Sounds like you are doing awesome with your running. It's fun reading about your races!!

Anonymous said...

Kelly,

BIG thanks to you and Suzanna for showing us southern Marin-ers the BEAUTIFUL trails of the North. I had a great time with all the chit-chat and inspiration for future adventure runs.

Currently in Hawaii wrapping up my project and am very psyched for my upcoming 15 mile adventure run in the volcano area. BTW, the weather is pretty mild so you guys should not roast during HURT.

Thanks again,
Paul

kelly said...

Paul, you POOR guy, you are in Hawaii AGAIN? Have fun on your 15 miler. Sounds like so much fun. My leg is still bad. I haven't run since I ran with you. I am RESTING. Have a wonderful Christmas!! See you next year!